YouTube is a wonderful adventure, but it attracts its fair share of Internet trolls and hurtful comments. But you don’t have to put up with that. It’s easy to cut that negativity out of your life and ban that spammy user for good.
Whether you're dealing with harassment or just want to curate your comment section, YouTube makes it easy to block unwanted users across desktop and mobile.
What Does Blocking Someone on YouTube Actually Do?
Before going over how to block someone, it’s helpful to know what blocking can do and what its limitations are.
When you block a user on YouTube:
- They can still watch your videos and see your public content.
- They can’t comment on your videos or live chats.
- Their previous comments won’t be deleted, but new ones won’t show up to others.
- They are muted from your perspective, helping you manage your mental bandwidth.
Blocking is a creator-side moderation tool, not a full ban. So, if you’re worried about comments a now-banned user may have left in the past, blocking them isn’t going to magically make them disappear, nor will it help keep trolls from viewing your content.
What’s the Difference Between Blocking and Reporting?
While blocking a user can be a helpful tactic, it’s only good for curing the symptoms, not the disease. When dealing with particularly nasty users, you may have to resort to something more proactive, such as reporting them.
While blocking and reporting may seem similar, there are some key differences:
- Blocking a user hides their comments and stops them from engaging
- Reporting a user flags abuse or spam for YouTube to investigate and take further actions, if needed
In other words, if someone is harassing you or violating YouTube's community guidelines, report them in addition to blocking.
We’re going to walk you through how to block someone from your YouTube channel, how to block users from commenting, and what happens when you do.
How to Block Someone on YouTube
When it comes to blocking someone on YouTube, content creators have a few different options available to them:
Option 1: Block via the Comments Section
- Go to YouTube Studio → Click “Content” in the left menu.
- Open the video with the offending comment.
- Hover over the comment, click the three dots (⋯), and select “Hide user from channel.”
- Done! That user can no longer comment on your videos or live chats.
Option 2: Block Directly from the User’s Channel
- Visit the user’s channel page.
- Click the three-dot menu (⋯) on their profile banner.
- Choose “Block user” from the dropdown.
- Confirm when prompted.
Option 3: Block During a Live Chat
- In a live stream, click on the username in the chat.
- Click the three dots, then choose “Block” or “Hide from channel.”
Blocking on the YouTube App
If you’re looking to block a user from the iOS or Android apps:
- Tap the profile photo of the user in a comment or live chat.
- Select the three-dot menu.
- Tap “Block user” or “Hide user from channel.”
Auto-Moderation Settings for Filtering Out Comments
In recent years, YouTube has improved comment filtering in YouTube Studio, allowing you to reduce the amount of spam and negativity your channel can potentially receive without lifting a finger!
Here’s how to set it up:
- Go to YouTube Studio → Settings → Community.
- Under “Automated Filters,” add users to your Hidden Users list.
- Use the Blocked Words feature to automatically hold toxic comments for review.
- Toggle on “Hold potentially inappropriate comments” for extra protection.
Final Thoughts
People can be pretty nasty, and that’s not changing any time soon. That makes managing your YouTube community not just about growing your audience, but about protecting your peace and maintaining control over your channel.
Blocking someone is no longer a last resort; it’s a smart, proactive move to shape the kind of environment you want to foster. Don’t hesitate to use this tool to defend your content, uphold your standards, and keep the focus where it belongs: On your message and your supporters.
